Housing Moves: our round-up of senior sector appointments in April 2019

Insight15.05.1912.00 PM by Nathaniel Barker

Inside Housing’s monthly round-up of top-level housing sector appointments runs down the main senior appointments in the sector for April 2019

Sharelines

Housing Moves: our round-up of sector appointments in April 2019 #ukhousing

A list of the housing sector’s senior appointments for April 2019 #ukhousing

Our new Housing Moves round-up continues with 31 senior appointments in #ukhousing in April 2019

Housing Moves compiles all the senior housing appointments in one place every month.

To tell us about your housing appointments, email gene.robertson@insidehousing.co.uk

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO OUR MONTHLY HOUSING MOVES EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Housing association and ALMO moves

Wayne Gethings (pictured) became chief executive of The Wrekin Housing Group on 5 April, having previously held the roles of group managing director of housing and care operations and managing director. On the same day, Desmond Hudson became the association’s chair, having already been a board member.
Henry Terefenko started as chief executive of ForHousing on 1 April, having previously been group director of communities at the organisation’s parent, ForViva.
Liz Haworth was revealed as new group chief executive of Halton Housing on 23 April. She will join the organisation in the summer from her current role as chief operations and transformation officer at Torus.
Jean Gray began as chief executive at Viewpoint Housing Association on 1 April, joining from Berwickshire Housing Association where she was operations director. Dan Blake replaces her at Berwickshire, having previously been at Wheatley Group.
Victoria Slade was named new chief executive of Cynon Taf Community Housing Group, joining from her previous role as director of operations at Merthyr Valleys Homes (MVH). She replaces Michelle Reid, who was previously announced as the new chief executive of MVH.
Chyrel Brown has been appointed chief operating officer at One Housing. She will move over from her current role as director of resident services at Hyde in July.
Newlon Housing Trust has named Ezinne Ogbonna as its business development director. She was promoted from deputy business development director on 1 April following Caroline Pennock’s retirement.
Marie Roe began as director of strategy and change at Beyond Housing in April, making the move from her previous role as executive director of business and development at ALMO Gateshead Housing Company.

Greenfields Community Housing made a series of changes to its senior team (pictured) on 1 April. Andrina Warsop joined as executive director (corporate services) after running an HR consultancy, Richard Gormley was promoted from interim property services director to executive director (portfolio growth and investment), Martin Norgett’s role as acting head of assets has been made permanent, and Jon Milne has joined the housing association as head of IT and business analytics.
Dale Wordley joined Flagship Homes as head of customer experience and insight on 2 April from RFT Services, where he was head of operations.
Lynda Bowen will later this year step into the role of acting chair at recently merged association Lincoln Housing Partnership, it was announced on 18 April. She is currently vice-chair and replaces Stephen Savage, who is resigning.
Alan Smith was promoted to executive director of investment, growth and performance at Believe Housing (formerly County Durham Housing Group), having previously been director of finance and resources.
Stephen Spill has been appointed a new board member of Karbon Homes, having recently returned to the UK from working as chief operating officer for KPMG in Eastern Europe.
Cross Keys Homes (CKH) has recruited Nav Singh Kalkat as a new board member. Mr Kalkat was previously a non-executive director at Incommunities and joined CKH on 1 April.
Lucy Davies was promoted to communications and marketing manager at Johnnie Johnson Housing on 1 April, from her previous role as communications and marketing officer.

Other sector moves

Homes England made four significant appointments last month.
- Amy Casterton (pictured) became permanent chief of staff on 2 April, having been in the role on an interim basis since October 2017.
- Lynda McMullan was announced as the government agency’s new chief finance officer on 2 April and will start on 1 July, joining from the Metropolitan Police where she is director of commercial and finance.
- Brian McIntyre will start as chief digital officer at Homes England in June, it was announced on 8 April, leaving his current position of chief technologist at Atkins.
- And Lou Downe was unveiled as the body’s new director of service design and transformation on 12 April. She is currently head of service design and standards for the Government Digital Service and her move date is yet to be confirmed.
Peter Roberts’ role as chair of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive was made permanent by Northern Ireland secretary Karen Bradley on 1 April. John McMullan was appointed vice-chair after retiring from his role as chief executive of social enterprise Bryson Charitable Group.

Kate Ryan (pictured) started a new role as corporate director – environment and community at the merging Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on 1 April. Before that, she was strategic director – place at Poole Council.
Louise Strongitharm has joined Woking Borough Council as director of housing, having previously been assistant director (place commissioning) at Wokingham Borough Council.
Trowers & Hamlins has recruited a new partner to its real estate team in London. Neil Biswas joined from Norton Rose Fulbright on 29 April.
Fellow law firm Capsticks has also been recruiting, hiring Laurence Gorley as a banking partner from Dechert on 23 April.
Vincent Marke has been promoted to national head of housing at accountancy firm Mazars.